Book jacketing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Book jacketing apparatus comprises a vertical frame mounting a pair of clamp arms arranged for clamping the bunched leaves of a book as the open book cover is wrapped with a dust jacket. Drive means associated with the arms adjust them between a closed clamping position and an open release position. A lateral arm adjustment is provided to accommodate books of different thickness. A pivotal frame with associated reciprocating drive enables adjustment of the frame between a working position and an out of the way position, facilitating removal of the jacketed book from the apparatus.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany United States Patent 1 1 3,742,542

Klug July 3, 1973 4] BOOK JACKETING APPARATUS v [75] Inventor: Howard R. Klug, Beaverton, Oreg. Pr'mary [hammer-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Eugene D. Farley [73] Assignee: Graphic Arts Center, Portland,

Oreg. v

[22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] App! 257399 Book jacketing apparatus comprises a vertical frame mounting a pair of clamp arms arranged for clamping [52] US. Cl 11/1 R h un h lea f a b k s the open book cover [51] Int. Cl. B42c 19/00 r pp wi h a dust jack Drive means associated [58] Field of Search ll/l R, 3 i h he rm djus hem between a clo ed clamping 7 position and an open release position. A lateral arm ad- [56] References Cited justment is provided to accommodate books of differ UNITED STATES PATENTS ent thickness. A pivotal frame with associated reciproeating drive enables adjustment of the frame between 2x32 g a working position and an out of the way position, facil- 2:799:029 7/1957 Schramm m R itating removal of the jacketed book from the appara- 2,943,336 7/1960 Barrett et al 1/1 R 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJUL 3197s 3 742 542 FIG.

BOOK JACKETING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for encasing books with dust jackets.

In print shops and book binderies it is conventional practice to wrap the printed book with a jacket which protects it from dust and abrasive damage. Where many thousands of books are to be jacketed, the jacketing operation is tedious, time consuming and adds materially to the cost of production.

It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide book jacketing apparatus which makes possible jacketing books at a high production rate, with minimum operator effort and fatique, and without damaging the jackets.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide book jacketing apparatus characterized by the following additional advantages:

1. Automatic operation 2. Precisely aligns the work without the necessity of pre-creasing or marking with register marks 3. Easily and accurately adjustable to accommodate books and jackets of various sizes, thickness and dimensions 4. Easy to use, with all controls and adjustments readily accessible to the operator 5. Will not cycle without being charged with a book 6. May be associated with a counter to obtain an accurate count of books jacketed 7. Jackets the books tightly and neatly 8. May be run by an operator after a relatively short training period 9. Is simple in construction, efficient in operation,

easily maintained, and relatively low in cost Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the hereindescribed book jacketing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, parts being broken away, better to show interior construction; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of afluid circuit employed for operating the apparatus.

Broadly considered, the hereindescribed apparatus for covering books with dust jackets comprises a horizontally arranged receptacle for holding a stack of dust jackets with a book superimposed thereon in open position, with its cover flat and horizontal and its leaves bunched and vertical. A vertical frame is stationed adjacent the receptacle. A pair of horizontally spaced clamp arms are mounted pivotally to the frame.

Drive means is connected to the clamp arms for. adjusting them between an open position for receivingthe books leaves and a clamping position for holding the book leaves while the'operator folds the uppermost jacket of the stack around the ends of the book covers.

Adjustment means is associated with the arms for adjusting them laterally as required to accommodate books of different thickness.

Pivotal mounting means supports the frame. With associated drive means, this makes possible shifting the frame from an advanced, book clamping position to a retracted, book release position. Appropriately ar at appropriate intervals along the ends and outer side of stack 12.

The jacket guides may be variously constructed, but in the illustrated form of the invention comprise angled plates 16 having slots 18 in their bases. They are retained adjustably in position by means of bolts 20 threaded into openings 22 in the upper surface of base 10. Thus receptacle areas of various dimensions may be established by locating bolts 20 in appropriate ones of threaded openings 22 and making the fine adjustment by adjusting the angled plates in slots 18.

The receptacle containing the dust jackets is further defined by means of a vertical abutment wall 24 ex tending upwardly from the rear surface of base 10.

The stack of retained dust jackets is adapted to support an overlying book positioned with its cover 28 open and horizontal and its leaves 30 bunched together and vertical. When thus positioned, the book cover is centered and in proper registration with the top dust jacket 12 so that the outwardly extending margins of the jacket may be folded around and over the ends of the book covers in the desired manner.

The location of book 26 in its proper position relative to the dust jacket, and the folding of the ends of the latter about the book cover are facilitated by the provision of a clamping and lifting subassembly the construction and function of which are as follows:

As shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the back side wall of frame 10 supports three horizontally arranged, U-shaped, nesting, frame components 32, 34, 36. These are made of substantial metal plates and support in working relation the assembly employed for clamping the leaves of the book.

. Frame element 32 has for its function supporting and guiding a tilting support for the clamping members. It comprises a U-shaped member having its back wall welded, bolted or otherwise affixed to the back wall of base 10.

Tilting support 34 nests within frame member 32. It comprises a U-shaped plate having its ends bent inwardly for stiffness. Its central segment has a pair of horizontal slots indicated at 38 and serving a purpose to be described later. Its side segments are connected pivotally to the base of frame member 32 by means of pivot bolts 40. H 1

Frame member 36 supports the drive which accomplishes the pivoting of frame member 34. It comprises a U-shaped plate secured centrally to the back of base 10 by means of bolts 42. Y

The end segments of frame member 36 support between them an air cylinder 44. The base of the cylinder is pivotally mounted on frame member 36 by means of a pivot pin 46. The piston rod of the cylinder is coupled through a pivot pin 48 to an ear 50 welded to and extending rearwardly from the inner face of tilting frame member 34.

Cylinder 44 may be either double acting, or single acting with a spring return. In the illustrated form of the invention, it is of the latter class and equipped with a spring 52.

As is particularly apparent from FIG. 2, retraction of the cylinder will move it and the associated frame member 34 to their dotted line tilted positions. Upon release of pressure on the cylinder, it is spring-returned to its solid line vertical position, a supplemental spring 54 associated with the frame member cooperating in accomplishing this result. If desired, separate cylinders may be employed as replacements for springs 52, 54 in self-evident manner.

As indicated above, tilting frame 34 has for its function the mounting of clamping means by which the bunched leaves of the book are clamped and held while the operator applies the jacket to the covers.

The construction, manner of mounting, and manner of functioning of the clamp means is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

Welded to the opposite ends of frame member 34 are two pairs of bearings 58. These journal a pair of screws 60. The screws are in vertical alignment with each other and the two halves of each screw are oppositely threaded from the center out.

The two screws are driven synchronously. For this purpose one end of the upper screw mounts a knurled nut 62. The opposite end of the upper screw is connected to the corresponding end of the lowerscrew by a chain and sprocket assembly 64. This assembly includes an idler tensioning sprocket 66.

Screws 60 are threaded into openings in the central segments of substantial U-shaped brackets 70 which they accordingly support in adjustable manner. Locking bolts 72 are carried by the brackets. They extend through slots 38 in the central segment of frame member 34. They are provided with nuts which enable fixing the brackets in a preselected position relative to each other.

Each bracket 70 supports a clamp arm or platen 74 by means of which clamping pressure is applied to the work. The arm is fabricated from heavy sheet metal and has a pair of vertically spaced, inwardly extending, horizontal flanges 76. The inner ends of flanges 76 are provided with aligned openings. These receive a hinge pin 78 by means of which the arm is hinged to U- shaped bracket 70. The hinging assembly is completed by means of a spacer 80 and a locking pin 82, FIG. 4.

Each of arms 74 is driven by an assembly which comprises a fluid operated cylinder, preferably an air cylinder 84. The base of the cylinder is pivotally connected to a tab 86 welded centrally to bracket 70. The piston rod of the cylinder is pivotally connected to a lever 88 welded to the outer end of clamp arm 74. If, as in the illustrated form of the invention, the cylinder is single acting, a return spring indicated schematically at 90 is included in the assembly.

The fluid (air) circuit which furnishes the drive for the clamping arms is illustrated in FIG. 5. Air under pressure is fed through a control valve 92 and a pressure gauge 94 to one or the other of solenoid operated valves 96, 98. These are in an electric with limit switches 100, 102 and 104.

In the rest position of the apparatus, valves 96 and 98 are closed. Frame 34 and cylinder 44 are upright and clamp arms 74 are spread apart. The operator places a book 26 on the stack of book dust jackets contained in receptacle 12. He locates it centrally with its cover 28 open and horizontal and leaves 26 bunched together and vertical. As he locates it, he inserts it between clamp arms 74 which, as noted above, are in their open, dotted line position of FIG. 1.

When the book is fully located, the bunched leaves contact limit switch 100. This in turn energizes solenoid-operated valve 96 and advances arms 74 against the tension of the springs associated with the cylinders. The result is to exert a clamping pressure on the leaves and to hold them securely.

The operator thus has both hands free to wrap the outwardly projecting ends of jacket 12 about the ends of the book cover. As soon as he has accomplished this, he closes the cover. During its closing sweep, the cover wipes across limit switch 102. This actuates both of the solenoid operated valves 96, 98 in a timed sequence.

First, valve 96 opens arms 74, releasing the book.

Second, with only an instants delay, valve 98 tilts cylinder 44 rearwardly with the arms in open position. This removes the arms from the field of operation so that the jacketed book may be removed from the apparatus quickly and easily.

Thereafter through an action initiated by limit switch 104, the valves return to their closed position. Thereupon the springs associated with frame member 34 and cylinder 44 return the associated elements to their rest position. Thus frame 34 is returned to its erect position with arms 74 open, ready to receive the bunched leaves of a second book.

The entire operation of applying the jackets thus is greatly facilitated. It is easily possible for an operator to jacket from 300 to 500 books per hour with a minimum of effort and fatigue.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Book jacketing apparatus comprising a. holding means for holding a stack of book dust jackets, with a book superimposed thereon in open position with its cover flat and its leaves bunched,

b. a frame, adjacent the holding means,

c. a pair of spaced clamp arms,

cl. pivotal mounting means mounting the clamp arms on the frame, and

e. drive means connected to the clamp arms for adjusting them between an open position for reception of the book leaves and a clamping position for holding the book leaves while the operator folds the uppermost jacket around the ends of the book covers.

2. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the holding means comprises a plurality of adjustable guide means and an abutment plate for use in positioning the book relative to the clamp arms.

3. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arm mounting means includes lateral adjustment means engaging the arm mounting means for adjusting the arms toward and away from each other to accommodate books of different thickness.

4. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lateral adjustment means comprises screw means oppositely threaded on each of its ends.

5. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lateral adjustment means comprises a pair of coop- 8. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 including pivotal mounting means for the frame and drive means connected to the frame for oscillating it between an advanced book-jacketing position and a retracted bookremoval position. 1

9. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the drive means comprises a fluid operated cylinder with associated electrically operated valve means in an electric circuit with limit switch means positioned for contact by the book cover as the cover is moved to closed position at the conclusion of the jacket-folding operation. 

1. Book jacketing apparatus comprising a. holding means for holding a stack of book dust jackets, with a book superimposed thereon in open position with its cover flat and its leaves bunched, b. a frame, adjacent the holding means, c. a pair of spaced clamp arms, d. pivotal mounting means mounting the clamp arms on the frame, and e. drive means connected to the clamp arms for adjusting them between an open position for reception of the book leaves and a clamping position for holding the book leaves while the operator folds the uppermost jacket around the ends of the book covers.
 2. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the holding means comprises a plurality of adjustable guide means and an abutment plate for use in positioning the book relative to the clamp arms.
 3. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arm mounting means includes lateral adjustment means engaging the arm mounting means for adjusting the arms toward and away from each other to accommodate books of different thickness.
 4. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lateral adjustment means comprises screw means oppositely threaded on each of its ends.
 5. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lateral adjustment means comprises a pair of cooperating, spaced, parallel screws oppositely threaded on each of their corresponding ends, chain and sprocket means interconnecting the screws, and manual drive means connected to one of the screws for rotating it in the predetermined direction.
 6. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises fluid operated cylinder means.
 7. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises fluid operated cylinder means, associated electrically operated valve means in an electric circuit with limit switch means positioned for contact by the book leaves when the book is in jacketing position.
 8. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 1 including pivotal mounting means for the frame and drive means connected to the frame for oscillating it between an advanced book-jacketing position and a retracted book-removal position.
 9. The book jacketing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the drive means comprises a fluid operated cylinder with associated electrically operated valve means in an electric circuit with limit switch means positioned for contact by the book cover as the cover is moved to closed position at the conclusion of the jacket-folding operation. 